Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-28
IN THE FORTIES.
"aAnBLIFs" % on TIE OHIO RIVER
IN EARLY DAYS.
The Three Card. Monte svindls and How
Boldly 1t Was worksd-confsssions
Of An "Old Sport"
cincinnati Commercial

ICincinnati Commercially
During the palmy days Of steamboat
ing on the western and southern
waters, forty-odd years ago, one OF the
chief pastimes INDUCED in by the pas
sengers was card-playiug, and to such
q great extent was it carried on that
the river interests received an unenvi-
able reputation through the press AMI
the boat-ownors were obliged TO pro
bibit oil games upon their steamers. In
those days it was common thing to
hear OF the highest State and national
officials sitting down to games where
large moneyed stakes were risked,
while sharpers and tricksters made it
regular business OF travelling back and
forth from port toport, fleeing the I'M
suspecting. Sporting men played
planters and others for high stakes, and
in many o case as high as $40, 900 and
$4,000 would change hands in one
nights sitting at a game of poker.
Gamblers at times almost took pos
session of the steamers, and the cap
tains and clerks had no way Of protect
ing their passengers. Every trick
known in cards was played for all it
was worth upon the emigrants aud
others upon the steamers, and many an
unfortunate deck-passenger met with a
watery grave after he had been heeced
out of what means he was possessed of.
In those daysmoney seemed to be more
plentiful than now; the South pros
pered, and her planters became rich
through successive seasons OF good
crops. Money seemed to flow into
their hands, and with true southern
characteristic hospitality the planters
literally spent it, and during those
years of prosperity South the Missis-
sippi river steamboats, were favored
with heavy cargoes and large passen-
ger lists.
With large travel and money plenti-
full the gamblers reaped harvests.
Since the rebellion, however, the South
almost crippled and the crop failures so
frequent, the river interests have dwin-
died until few medium sized steamers
can accommodate the trade, where great
palatial vessels were formerly required
to handle the passenger travel, and
powerful towboats, barge lines, and
freight steamers OF 1900 to 1900 tons
capacity were necessary for the i'm
mense freight traffic. There was no
better known person along the river
in those days gone by than Colonel
George Devol, of Cincinnati, who is at
present writing an account OF his forty
years experience along the Missis-
sippi river. Surrounded by party of
friends few evenings ago Colonel
Devol related some incidents OF his ex-
perience. Among other things he tola
Of some of his tricks on passengers
with cards in a game known as monte.
To use his own language, the Colonel,
throwing bis portly form back in large
easy-chair and placing his thumbs IN
der his suspenders at the shoulders,
said:
"The good old days for sporting
men on the river are past and gone.
Forty years | led a gamblers life,
making money fast and spending it
freely. But the last five years of my
life have been tough, I tell you. I've
quit cards, and propose now, in my old
age, to try and live moral life. But
YOU want to hear about my book !?
Well, III relate some of my personal
experiences
81 was coming up the river from
Now Orleans on the steamer E. Ii.
Fairchilds. We left there about 6
o'clock on Saturday night. The Fair
childs was bound for Louisville.
"The cabins and deck were literally
packed with people. After supper l
went over in the BARRIERS shop, and,
spreading out my cards, began inte-
resting few of the passengers with
some of my tricks. Pretty soon We
had started a game. and it was kept up
all night, some eight of the passengers
entering into it. When we quit play
ing in the early hours Of Sunday over
$4,000 had changed hands, and | was
big winner. went to my state
room, took a bath and had break
fast, and afterwards went out
on the guards to smo1e. A fine
looking old gentleman about sixty
wears Of age, whom | mistook for IL
planter, came over and entered into
conversation with me. Presently the
captain of the boat joined us, and the
old gentleman stated that he was u
PRESBYTERIAN minister. Of Louisville,
ard would like to be permitted to
preach in the cabin. The captain OF
course gave his consent, and the min
lister, placing his arm in mine, almost
before i was aware what he was about
to do, had me half way down the cabin.
1t was too late for me to get out OF the
predicsment so / sat as an honorei
guest next to the reverend gentleman
all through the service.
"To tell the truth, the man really
impressed me with his discourse, and
made me feel real mean. 1t was the
finest sermon / ever heard, full of prac-
teal sayings, without any howery non
sense. He told us that he bad been a
Presbyterian pastor in Louisville for
twenty-five years. He also referred IN
plain terms to the gambling games OF
| the night before, and said it was a great
pity that such fne-looking gentle
man as the one who sat near him
should play cards for money: He
didn't look at me, but l thought he was
getting pretty close to home. Well,
| re seemed to create good impression,
as the collection amounted to conside-
rable, and / put in my share literally
After sleeping all afternoon came ou
of my room at supper-time and spent
the evening reading. 1t was nearly
midnight when l got up and walked
back in the cabin. Nearly every one
had retired, but as / walked back
spied a man with his back to me read
ing in the ladies' cabin. approached
him and found it was the minister.
"Be called me to him, and we begal
talking about the game OF the nigh
before. / had changed my appearance
SO the old fellow did not recognize me
and after talking awhile conceded wit
his views trumped up story abou
how had been 'roped in in a gam
to the tune OF 81, 600. He became YER
much interested with my story an
asked many questions, and seemed cur
GUS to know all the particulars. toll
him bad some of the tickets in m
hand-satchel that the game was playe
| NTH ond &c he Wished IN SEQ them